The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-21

pected it to develop into o tragedy Sep
TENDER 20, 1856, Mrs Amer. ca Rawson
filed bill for separate maintenance from
her husband, and yesterday noon
William R. Lee, her con, shot and
probably fatally wounded his STEP
father, Stephen W. Rawson, as he was
coming from attending divine services at
the Third Presbyterian Church Mr. Raw
son is now lying almost at the point Of death
at his home No. 496 West Monroe street,
the boy is in Jail, and the mother and wife
is more alone in the world than ever.
Stephen W. Rawson has long been aproni-
inent figure in Chicago. The president of a
leading bank, a prominent factor in business
affairs, member of a fashionable club.
pillar in the Presbyterian church, he
took high stand both In social
and mercantile circ.es His second wife
died few years ago In March, 1886,
he married Mrs America Lee, an engaging
brunette, 33 years of age Sc was origin
ally Miss America Smith, born in New Or.
leans, and at II was pretty girl, as she is
now handsome woman. At that early age
she married man named Slaymaker,
a New Orleans gambler, and Will
lam Lee, or more properly William Slay-
maker, who did the shooting yesterday,
was che fruit of that union. She got di-
vorce from Slaymaker on the ground of
drunkenness, and came North some years
atterward to Ohio, marrying second hus-
band by the name of Charles Lee. Young
Slaymaker took his step fathers name, and
as result of this marriage there was born
a girl, who is now about 10 years of age
But Mrs America Lee did not live any
hammer bQI, h u
her first, and soon got divorce from him.
After this she was in Washington for time,
employed in one of the Government dep TT
ments as clerk, well-known Ohio poll
tician taking enough interest in her to Sc
cure her the position. About four years ago
she came to Chicago. Here she met Raw
son, and the acquaintance ended in their
marriage.
In short time there was trouble, but the
first the public knew OF it was when Mrs.
Riwson, September 90 1886, fled bill
for separate maintenance, claiming that
her husband was keeping her prisoner in
his house, had detectives Watching her, and
was doing other things to make her life
burden. An answer was filed by
Mr. RaWson, setting up that Mrs. Rawson
Was a profane and vulgar woman, and
saying other things about her any thing but
complimentary. Then both sides began
filing affidavlts, and finally Mr. Rawson
came back with a cross-bill for absolute
divorce, in which he asserted that his wife
had, after her marriage, been guilty of
adultery. Then came lot more of
terminating and recriminating affidavits'
and finally, on last Monday, Mr. Raw
sons attorneys filed an amended bill.
HIS first one set forth particular
act of adultery. This one stated
that she had been intimate with ''divers and
sundry persons" the regular legal verbiage.
AS result OF tnis, yesterday morning
young Lee waited at the door of the Third
Presbyterian Church and when Mr.. Rawson
came out emptied the contents of i've
chambefed revolver into his body
The shooting took place on the sidewalk
Immediately after Mr.. Rawson had left the
church in which he had been worshiping.
and in front of it's very door, But few peo-
pie had left the church before Mr. Rawson.
AS he came from the portals of the sacred
ed4hce he walked to nearly the center of
the sidewalk in front and turned to 90
south. The swarthy youth had stood but
few feet from him, awaiting his coming. AS
Mr.. Rawson turned to go south the boy fol-
lowed after and was very close to him. Mr..
Rawson had gone perhaps fifty feet south
when the sound of a shot startled the
crowd Of men, women and children
VINO had gathered from the church
to the Sidewalk. MI Rawson turned
partially about, for the shot had been aimed
at him and had penetrated his right leg AS
he instinctively turned he raised his right
hand partially above his head, and second
shot Immediately followed This penetrated
h-s wrist and shattered the bone. The
excitement created by the second shot was
fearful and threw the women and children
into panic. Il seemed as if Mr. Rawson
was anxious to get away from his pursuer,
Tor he faced again to the south as if to
walk away, when a third shot fol-
lowed, Which penetrated his back, near the
spine. He tottered for a moment and
tnen fell, going down on his face. By this
time the youth had gotten close to him, and
rapidly fired two more shots into the pros.
trate form. AS the fifth shot was fired two
men grasped the murderer, but he said they
need have no fear of his doing further dam
age, as he had exhausted his ammunition
A great crowd gathered in a very short
time, and loud cries of Hang him!" was
heard The youth remained cool through
out all the excitement, and on the arrival
OF an officer handed over his revolver, and
said: Here it is-this is what I did the
shooting with. gave him all I had Put
the handouts on me-, and FL go with you"
The officer called the patrol-wagon and the
prisoner was taken to the West Lake street
station
In the meantime Mr. Rawson had not been
neglected Though all of the five shots had
taken effect he was still conscious, strong
and full of nerve. He had nothing to say
as to the tragedy but requested that he be
taken home at once and that his physicians
Drs. Andrews and Ross, be sent for. Mr.
Rawson was assisted into passing carriage
and taken to his home No 496
West Monroe street His physici ms
at 3 O'clock this morning stated
that Their patient was resting rather easy,
and the attending physicians did not look
for any sudden change for the worse
There is still hope that the wounded man
will recover, but his condition at best is
desperate
One of the five bullets took effect in the
right leg, another passed through the wrist,
a third near the spine and the other two
in the thigh. The weapon with which
the shooting was done is 38-callber
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